PatrickRuthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven was the son of WilliamRuthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven and JanetHalyburton, Lady Dirletoun.2 He married, firstly, JanetDouglas, daughter of ArchibaldDouglas, 6th Earl of Angus.1 He married, secondly, LadyJanetStewart, daughter of JohnStewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and LadyJanetCampbell, after 1551.1 He died on 13 May 1566, in exile.1 He succeeded as the 6th Lord Dirletoun [S., c. 1450]. He succeeded as the 3rd Lord Ruthven [S., 1488] before 29 October 1552.1 He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Scotland] in 1553.1 He held the office of Provost of Perth.1 He held the office of Hereditary Sheriff of Perthshire.1 He held the office of Lord Warden of the Middle March in March 1558.1 In 1560 he promoted the Reformation.1 In 1566 he was the ringleader in the assassination of Rizzio, when he rose from his sick-bed clad in black armour to lead his fellow conspirators up the secret stair to Mary Queen of Scots' apartments at Holyrood. Afterwards, he deserted his friend, the King Consort, Lord Darnley, and fled to England.1